In a matter of hours, the Beckett Group made the headlines nationwide and across all social media. A video of Sophia being dragged off the golf course had surfaced and soon became viral all across the web.A company as big as Beckett Group could have easily silenced such an internet movement. Unfortunately, Alyssa had gotten to them before they could, so it was useless.The company behind the news channel that streamed the 3:00 pm breaking news had KS Group as their main shareholder. Hence, they followed Alyssa's whims and instructions. In fact, if Alyssa asked, they could even make a silly remix of it and stream it 24/7.Some creative content creators had even turned Sophia and Betty's dumbfounded, shocked, and aggrieved expressions into stickers and emoticons. They soon became everyone's top-used stickers.Javier was doing all he could to quell the rumors by getting Sophia back from the Investigative Bureau, feeling as if he had lost a solid decade of his life.Meanwhile, Alys
Tatiana was always considerate and grateful, so Alyssa never really knew how to pamper her."Taty! Are you back in the city?" Alyssa asked happily over the phone."Yep, I'm at the school," Tatiana replied. She sheepishly asked, "Um … Are you doing anything tonight?""You wanna hang out?" Alyssa immediately knew what Tatiana was up to."Mhm!" Tatiana eagerly answered. "We haven't had a chance to properly spend time together since you came home. Why don't we have dinner tonight? My treat!""Just dinner? No drinks after?" Alyssa teased.Tatiana's tone took on a mischievous edge. "Drinks afterward, then! We'll go for some karaoke too. We haven't had that much fun in ages. I'll definitely sing better than you.""Hahaha! You're on!" Alyssa laughed. "We'll see who's the final victor tonight!"…During the board meeting at the Beckett Group, Javier emphasized three critical directives. The first was to eliminate any negative consequences resulting from the actions of Sophia and Henry,
"Don't cross the line, Jasper Beckett!" Javier cried, slamming his hand on the desk."Business is business, Dad. Keep the personal things out of it. That's what you've always taught us." Jasper languidly leaned into his chair, expression calm."You're greedy, that's what you are! Haven't you had enough? What should have been Justin's post was given to you already, yet now you still want to aim for the board? Why don't you just swap in as President yourself?" Javier roared.Jasper sneered, shooting his father a cold glare. "Haven't you benefited more from me being in my current position? Ever since I was young, you have set a price on every single thing I wanted to attain. "You know full well why I'm in the CEO's chair today, so why act like the innocent victim here? We're the only ones in this room. Don't you get tired of putting on this act?"Javier was left red-faced and speechless. "Me as VP, in exchange for the company's salvation from a serious crisis. It's your choice." J
"Ms. Alyssa, I've heard there's a wonderful café in the university with the best macchiatos. Why don't I grab some for you and Ms. Tatiana?" Sean suggested."That would be lovely. Bring her out here too." Alyssa's eyes never left the plans she'd printed out. She added, "She didn't answer my call just now, so call her later when you head inside. I don't think she knows we're using this entrance.""Alright, miss." Sean stepped out of the car and went into the university. The moment he did, several young students gave him admiring looks. He was quite attractive, tall, and dressed in a proper suit and tie. Sean ignored the looks sent his way and proceeded to buy two coffees. Nonetheless, he still managed to catch the attention of the female baristas. Two fashionably dressed students walked into the café, all designer clothing and jewelry."Did you hear? The performance arts' convocation play is setting Tatiana Taylor as the female lead!"Sean paused what he was doing and focuse
Tyler said, "Isn't this what you wanted? You can stop the act now." Tyler then pressed Tatiana up against a tree trunk and leaned in to kiss her."No!" Tatiana screamed, closing her eyes as tears began falling from them.Suddenly, a loud yelp was heard, followed by Tyler cursing, "Fuck!" Slowly, Tatiana opened her eyes. She saw a familiar figure standing before her, deftly throwing Tyler over his shoulder.Sean then knelt down, grabbed Tyler's lapel, and began punching his face repeatedly.Frightened, Tatiana cried, "Stop! Stop it!" She ran up to Sean to grab him so he would stop hitting Tyler. She was scared Sean would actually kill the boy."You … How dare you? Do you have any idea who I am?" Tyler grunted out weakly, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He glared at Sean, yelling, "My dad is Crowley Corp's President! Hit me again, and I'll make your life hell!""The name's Sean Lynch, from Belbanks." Sean's voice was tinged with anger. Still, he forced himself to calm dow
Jasper ended up meeting Landon in a newly opened club in Solana City. Landon's tables were filled with all kinds of wine. He held one right now, belting out his lungs to "Live or Let Die."Jasper reclined on the luxurious sofa with a shot of whisky in hand. He looked like some sullen Adonis, exuding a strong, potent air even in the dim surroundings of the room."So live and let die!" Landon yelled into the microphone.It was nearly enough for Jasper to crush his shot glass into pieces.If he had known Landon for two years less, he wouldn't be sitting here keeping the loser company or enduring this torture.Jasper took a painful swallow of his whiskey."My man! Burp!" Landon called, heaving a loud burp before falling onto the couch beside Jasper. He reached out to hook an arm around his friend's shoulders, asking, "How was my singing? Terrific, no?"Jasper frowned and moved away, making Landon fall flat on his face on the sofa. "You're terrific if you were a donkey in heat.""Fu
"I'm sorry, Ms. Alyssa, Ms. Tatiana. Please have a safe trip home," Sean said with a sigh. "I'll be leaving now. But please, contact me if there's anything urgent, and I'll come to your aid immediately!""Alright, alright. You nag more than women do," Alyssa scowled, gently pushing him onward.Sean gazed at her for a moment more before finally leaving with a smile.The sight filled Tatiana up with envy, a bitter feeling rising from her heart to her throat. But she wasn't jealous of her sister at all. Alyssa truly was a marvelous and exceptional woman. It made perfect sense for Sean to have a crush on her instead.Someone as weak and soft-spoken as Tatiana herself would never get his attention.But then, why did Alyssa's ex-husband divorce her?Maybe he had cancer and didn't want to become a burden …Alyssa had booked a VIP room for them at the karaoke. A bone-chilling wail came from the opposite room when they reached its door."So scary!" Tatiana grabbed onto her sister's arm.
"You really are Little Bastard!" Alyssa cackled joyfully.The man smiled, the coldness in his eyes dissipating instantly. He tucked his glasses back, reminiscing on the nickname he had been called so long ago.Even his father stopped calling him that years ago. Yet Alyssa was still the same old as before, unrestrained and always doing whatever she pleased."You're as beautiful as ever, even after fifteen years, Alyssa.""Hehe … You're not bad yourself!" Alyssa grinned, patting his cheek. The man's smile deepened. He did not shy away from her touch. Now, this was the Alyssa he'd always remembered.She covered her mouth, burping once again. This time, her knees started shaking. She was unable to hold herself up any longer.The man smirked and lifted her into his arms right away, feet off the floor."Hey, put me down!" Alyssa cried, wriggling away from his grasp like a feisty kitten. Her burgundy-red dress made the nicest contrast with her pale, milky skin.Feeling a sudden desi
"Mr. Lexington," the doctor greeted respectfully, lowering his head slightly. Everyone at the base knew who Sheryl and Remy were. They were the ones in charge, the decision-makers. So, everyone obeyed their orders without question. To the staff unaware of the facility's true purpose, Sheryl and Remy stood at the pinnacle of the hierarchy. Unbeknownst to them, someone more powerful lurked in the shadows."How has she been these past few days?" Remy asked, his expression unreadable."She's had some adverse reactions, but there are no signs of organ failure yet. Honestly, I'm surprised. She looks frail, but her body is incredibly resilient—stronger than some men, even."The doctor scoffed. "But I'm not sure if she'll make it past her fourth injection today. Last month, four test subjects didn't survive beyond that point. Their bodies have already been sent to the incinerator." Remy's jaw tensed. His voice was husky as he said, "As I've instructed, this woman must be kept alive.
Xavier seethed as he took in the insincere smile on Justin's face. Deep down, he was cursing him with every profanity imaginable. "Whatever makes you happy."Ignoring Justin's dark gaze, Jasper kept his eyes fixed ahead as he strode past him.Out of nowhere, Justin chuckled and asked, "Did you really think you had people on your side during the board meeting?"Jasper halted, his eyes narrowing. "Grandpa tried his best to shield you, but his health is failing by the day. How much longer do you think an old man can protect you?"Lowering his gaze, Justin idly adjusted the ruby cufflinks on his sleeves. His voice was casual yet cutting. "And Lyse—after how ruthlessly you discarded her, do you still believe she'll stand by you no matter what? That she'll fight alongside you like before?"The intense midday sun accentuated the sharp, aloof, and pallid features of Jasper's face as he stood, unyielding, in its glare. His pulse quickened. Finally, he answered, his voice a low rasp. "R
As the board meeting concluded, the crowd gradually dispersed.News of Justin securing his position as president and Alyssa joining the board quickly spread through Beckett Group.After the meeting, Alyssa escorted Newton back to Crescent Bay while Jasper remained at the corporation to handle some matters.With Xavier accompanying him, Jasper strode toward the chairman's office, his expression cold and unreadable.Nearby, a few employees huddled together, whispering."Psst! Do you think Alyssa joining the board means she's teaming up with Jasper to take down our new president?""People have been saying they broke up since they haven't been seen together for a while," another speculated."But at the press conference, Alyssa openly condemned Mr. Justin. That looked like she was siding with Jasper. So, are they still together or not?""Come on, to people like them, personal feelings don't matter—only their own interests do. Even if they broke up, they can still work together if it
When Jonah reached the bedside, he leaned in slowly, giving Julien an unobstructed view of his tanned skin, well-defined abs, and that devastatingly captivating face. Reclining against the headboard, Julien found himself lost in Jonah's eyes. His breath hitched, and his mind momentarily blanked as Jonah's mesmerizing gaze locked onto him. What could he do? His heart still betrayed him, a frantic drumbeat against his ribs. He was a fool—a pathetic fool. Jonah braced his arms on either side of Julien's head, his dark eyes overflowing with a raw, possessive affection. It was as if he sought to consume Julien—just as he had last night."Julien, does it still hurt—" "Fuck you!" Julien's bloodshot eyes blazed as he swung his hand, landing a sharp slap across Jonah's face. The illusion of his frailty shattered. A crimson handprint bloomed on Jonah's cheek in a split second, the flesh puffing up visibly. But the sting barely registered. Not when the ache in Jonah's chest was alr
Justin frowned as a hint of surprise flashed across his dark eyes. He had assumed Newton's unannounced appearance at the board meeting—along with Alyssa's involvement—was a coordinated effort with Jasper to overthrow him as president. After mentally running through hundreds of countermeasures, the one possibility he hadn't considered was that everything would proceed smoothly in his favor. Javier was equally stunned, though this outcome aligned with his desires. Today, Justin wasn't merely his son but a constant shadow looming over him, a silent predator watching his every move and reminding him that his past actions weren't completely buried. Instead, this secret loomed like a ticking time bomb that could detonate at any moment, obliterating everything he'd built. And the person holding the detonator was Justin—his eldest son whom he had trusted above all others. With a dim gaze, Javier watched Justin rise to his feet amid the applause. Suddenly, Justin's voice seemed distant,
Justin curled his lips into a smirk, scoffing in silence. Newton had gone to great lengths to bring Alyssa into Beckett Group. This was his way of decentralizing power and keeping it in check, and he wanted to prevent Justin from having complete control. Unlike others, Javier couldn't hold himself back. He blew his top instantly, his face turning red like a tomato. "Dad, have you lost your mind? Don't you know who she is? She is KS Group's president—our direct competitor!"KS Group is also bidding for Project A5. No matter how much you favor her, you should at least recognize the limits. If you promote her, it's a blatant conflict of interest—outright cronyism!" Newton sneered. "I might understand your concern if I were promoting someone other than Alyssa."His gaze hardened. "Cronyism? A conflict of interest? I wonder who you're really talking about."With those words, he cast a knowing, enigmatic glance at Justin's blank expression. Just then, a board member from Javier's
Despite his age, Newton exuded the same energy and sharpness he had in his younger days, even when surrounded by the board members brimming with vigor. Despite his quiet presence in the wheelchair, an intimidating atmosphere clung to him. In an instant, Javier was transported back to the days when he worked under Newton's strict supervision."Good day, Mr. Javier and all fellow board members. I assume no one has any objections to my presence at this meeting?"Newton's gaze swept across the room, a perfunctory smile gracing his lips."Of course not. You are part of the corporation's board of directors!" the members responded immediately.Newton nodded. "Much has happened within the corporation lately. Our shares have been fluctuating amid the controversy. "As you all know, I had intended to retire after dedicating most of my life to this company. I wanted to step aside for the younger generation rather than hover over them like a specter, micromanaging everything. "However,
Jasper's arrival plunged the conference room into an uneasy silence, and heavy tension settled over the space. Justin looked up, his expression a frozen mask. A palpable chill emanated from him. Javier's eyes widened in surprise. "Jasper? What are you doing here?" "Even though I'm no longer the president of Beckett Group, I remain a shareholder and board member. It's only natural for me to be here," Jasper replied smoothly as he strolled to his seat. As he passed behind Justin, he abruptly stopped. Without a moment's notice, he struck the back of Justin's chair. The sudden impact made Justin flinch. "Am I right, Justin?" Justin's expression darkened. Forcing a smile, he replied, "As a board member, you have the right to attend, even if you're no longer involved in operations. There's no issue.""If that's the case, why wasn't I informed about this meeting?" Jasper lowered himself into his seat, legs slightly parted, exuding an air of indifference. Yet, beneath the nonc
Beckett Group was, in essence, Javier's heart and soul, forged from his own labor. "Justin set me up, framed me for drug addiction, and bribed my primary physician to give false testimony—all so he could drag me down. The fact that he dared to target me like this means he's willing to betray anyone."Jasper took a deep breath, forcing down the rage roiling inside him as Javier remained silent. "Fine. Even if you insist this is just a family matter, Justin's reputation is already in ruins, and the corporation's stock prices are fluctuating. Are you really going to stand by him, even now?""Justin has explained everything to me. He wasn't aware of the bribery. That female doctor who worked for him acted on her own. Besides, she's been arrested. The backlash against Justin will settle in time…"Jasper listened, his face unreadable, but his heart clenched painfully. A lump rose in his throat, suffocating him.He had lost his mother at a young age, but he had never longed for his fa